Tennessee Booster Seat Law (2026)

Tennessee is upgraded to an official-source page because it was the first state in the nation to pass a child restraint law (1977) and its booster rule is written as a combined age-and-height test rather than age alone, which trips up a lot of searches.

For 2026 checks, the direct answer is: a belt-positioning booster seat is required for a child age 4 through 8 who is also under 4'9" tall. Once either condition is no longer true (the child turns 9, or reaches 4'9", whichever happens first), the seat belt stage applies instead.

The fine for a booster-age violation is a Class C misdemeanor (up to $50) under the general sentencing statute; the $50 civil citation figure widely quoted online actually comes from the separate 9-15 seat belt provision, not the booster-age rule.

Tennessee's Child Passenger Protection Act took effect in 1978, the first law of its kind in the country. Pediatrician Dr. Robert Sanders and his wife Pat lobbied the state legislature for years before it passed; by 1985 every state had adopted some form of child restraint law.

The current booster requirement is codified at 55-9-602(a)(3), part of the same statute that has been amended repeatedly since 1978 to add later stages for older children.

Under 1 year old, or weighing 20 lb or less: rear-facing child restraint, regardless of age.

Ages 1 through 3 and over 20 lb: forward-facing child restraint.

Ages 4 through 8 AND under 4'9": belt-positioning booster seat. Both conditions must be true; reaching either the 9th birthday or 4'9" ends this stage.

Ages 9 through 12, or any child through age 12 who is 4'9" or taller: seat belt, rear seat recommended if available.

Ages 13 through 15: seat belt or other passenger restraint system.

A violation involving a child under 9 -- which covers the booster-age requirement -- is classified as a Class C misdemeanor under 55-9-602(c)(1). Tennessee's general misdemeanor sentencing statute caps a Class C misdemeanor at 30 days and a $50 fine; 55-9-602 itself does not print a specific dollar amount for this age band.

A separate provision, 55-9-602(g), sets an explicit $50 citation with no added court costs for the seat belt requirement covering ages 9 through 15. That is a different rule from the booster-age requirement, even though both end up capped near $50 -- a lot of secondary sources quote the $50 figure without making clear it comes from the older-child provision.

A violation involving a child under 9 (including the booster-age requirement) is a Class C misdemeanor under T.C.A. 55-9-602(c)(1), punishable by up to 30 days and a fine capped at $50 under Tennessee's general misdemeanor sentencing statute (T.C.A. 40-35-111); the statute does not print a specific dollar figure for this age band the way it does for older children. The separate seat-belt requirement for ages 9-15 carries an explicit $50 citation with no added court costs (55-9-602(g)(2)-(3)), but that provision does not apply to the booster-age rule.

Only one citation may be issued per vehicle per stop under the 9-15 seat belt provision, and the child's parent or legal guardian is responsible for compliance if present in the vehicle rather than the driver.

No. Tennessee Code Annotated 55-9-602 sets restraint requirements for children through age 15; there is no separate adult booster-seat provision. A viral notice claiming Tennessee requires adults under a certain height to use booster seats is not this law; see the adult booster seat law fact check. Searches using the phrase "adult booster seat" usually mean the point when a child can move from a booster to the adult seat belt.

Not sure which type fits your child? Use the seat finder — enter age, height, and weight to see the stage and a matching seat.